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Information literacy

During your university study you will be confronted with academic literature for the first time. It is essential that you learn what academic literature is, where to find it and how to use it correctly. To succeed in this you need to develop new skills; information literacy skills. These skills are part of the academic skills you will be taught during your university education.

Why can't I just use Google?

User Guide

This LibGuide contains the information you need to upgrade your information literacy skills which will help you become successful in your studies.

The LibGuide consists of six aspects of information literacy (from left to right), which can be accessed via the tabs in the red bar at the top of the screen. The tabs deal with the following: academic information, choosing a topic and search terms, choosing information sources, searching and finding, evaluating and processing information.

Each subject is divided into short chapters, which you can see in a drop-down menu as you move the cursor over the tabs. You will learn all information literacy skills by opening the tabs in sequence, from left to right, and studying the content of the chapters via the drop-down menu. This enables you to set your own pace and to structure the learning process yourself. You can also select specific aspects that you have not mastered yet.

An overview of the contents of the chapters is provided in the introduction to each chapter. There are also questions on each subject so that you can test your knowledge.

The LibGuide will remain available as a reference work throughout your study.

Learning outcomes

After studying the LibGuide you will be able to:

- decide what sort of information you need

- decide how much information you need

- find relevant information

- evaluate information

- process information

- use information in accordance with the principles of academic integrity

The University Library

At the University of Groningen, academic information is provided by the University Library (UB), which comprises the University Library City Centre (UB Binnenstad) and the University Library Zernike (UB Zernike).

The UB also works closely with the Central Medical Library of the University Medical Center Groningen.

These libraries function as the information centre for teaching and research for the whole University of Groningen community.


UB Binnenstad

Library tour - University Library City Centre

SmartCat

SmartCat is the University's library catalogue and discovery tool. Consult the SmartCat LibGuide for more information on searching with SmartCat.  

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